NEWCASTLE KZN: Police warn community not to fall for scammers

Lizzy Arumugam of the SAPS Newcastle Corporate Communications office, has issued a clear warning to students and job seekers about money-making scams.

“These types of crimes are particularly prevalent at this time of year. Criminals are attempting to obtain money from people who are vulnerable by using whatever means possible.”

She explained that these types of scams are typically aggressive in nature and are designed to extort money from vulnerable victims.

“At this time of year, parents do all they can, including spending all of their money, to ensure their children are enrolled in higher education institutions. However, this is also a time when criminals take advantage of such an opportunity to entice their victims into giving them money,” she explained.

She said that according to police information, there are people who pose as representatives of tertiary institutions and trick their victims into depositing money at clothing stores in order to be registered, despite the fact they are not true representatives of those institutions.

“They will never hear from the so-called fake representatives after depositing money. These are simply criminals who prey on those who are desperate and may lack information.”

As a result, the Newcastle SAPS has warned the public about this pattern and advised them to inquire extensively about schools and job opportunities.

Police also cautioned the public not to give money to those who promise them jobs, because there are no jobs for sale where they will be asked to pay money in order to be hired.

“Legitimate job openings are advertised in the print and electronic media, as well as on related websites.”

The general public is also encouraged to be alert and request clarification from the aforementioned tertiary institutions and companies in order to validate the validity of such deals in the future.

“As a result, the police categorically reject the immoral tendencies of these offenders, as they are evil and, at times, they steal the last money a family has in order to obtain jobs or attend a higher learning institution. We also alert students who will be enrolling for the first time in higher education institutions to be wary of fake schools,” Arumugam concluded.

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